Joseph Phelps, Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

Upon the advice of other reviews, it was decanted for 1 hour prior to tasting. Still nicely balanced with a medium intensity profile showing aromas of cassis and dark berry, green pepper, cedar and leather. Medium acidity with dark fruit on the palate and refined tannin. Still a beautiful wine at this time with nothing out of line.

2002 vintage

This has held up well and had a classic feel to it. Deep ruby, med+ nose, pronounced palate. Violet, blueberry, leather, tobacco, smoke, forest floor, wet leaves. The oak treatment is very good, not overpowering and well integrated. The finish is long. Can hold a few years or drink now.

2005 vintage

Good deep purple Cabernet grape color. Decanted for an hour. Light palate so not much weight. Good fruit with a short finish. Wait a couple of years or for me SELL.

2013 vintage

Amazing wine - color and body are still great. Slight tanin remaining, could be good another 4 years. Nice flavors - fruit forward with some wood start to end.

2006 vintage

I opened the bottle a little over three hours prior to dinner and took to the club for date night. The nose on this wine was spectacular with dark berries and floral hints . The palate was dark berries, dark cherry, plumes, tobacco and a hint of sage leading to a long smooth finish.

2013 vintage

From magnum, truly magnificent with a great ribeye. Complex, plush and powerful.

2002 vintage

NR - Purchased recently from KL recently when they were selling a number of past vintages. Opened D1 with 3 hours of decanting. Tried the wine on opening and immediately regretted opening the bottle. It's too early to open this wine. Drank half of the bottle D1 with my somm buddy. Lots of tannins. Definitely high quality and got some 'maple syrup'. D2: settled down a bit. mix berry syrup and some vanilla with the oak. Again, too early to …

2013 vintage

Decanted for an hour, but really show it's best at the end of bottle, which was about 1 1/2 hours in. I would drink soon, if I had more.

2006 vintage

11/12/23-Bottle 02538. Cork broke in half but sealed still. Faint bouquet. No fruit and mostly alcohol. Hoping it needs air. Now open about 3 hours and fruit is showing up. The alcohol still there but fruit is balancing it so it is less noticeable. Wine lighter at rim of glass. Now 5+ hours and fruit has swam up to the surface. Not a lot but it's there and nice. Tart and there is acid but dialed down. Was expecting other …

2002 vintage

Opened up nicely with a nose of dark fruit and some leatger. Further opening added a nice herbal essence - maybe a little cardigan. Flavors were full of dark cherry and blackberry with some ripe dark plum. Finish was beautiful with that dark fruit and a nice blackberry twinge of acid. A beautiful wine!!

2013 vintage

Not my cup of tea, but many a dinner loved it. So much oak even at age 21. My palate has moved to Burgundy of the non-Parkerized variety so this wine is too much for me. It’s hard to believe this wine is French oak, given the preponderance of vanilla and dill. There is fruit but the oak dominates. I wish Napa wines scaled back on the new oak and made a balanced drink. If you like being hit on …

2002 vintage

Decanted for an hour and drank over several hours. Smooth and seemed quite ready to drink in terms of well-integrated tannins, but strangely muted on the nose and on the palate. It was not corked or seemingly otherwise flawed, so maybe in a dumb phase, although others� notes here don�t suggest that. I have more bottles, so I will try another one later and see if maybe it was just an off bottle somehow.

2013 vintage

Phenomenal! Perfectly aged - still robust but with a smooth finish. Love this and wish I had more...

2002 vintage

This wine was opened three hours prior to dinner and drank against a 2013 Insignia and a 2006 Cos d'Estournel. The nose on this wine was spectacular with dark berries and hints of chocolate. The palate was dark berries, dark cherry, tobacco and chocolate leading to a long finish. My good Michael preferred this wine over the Insignia. I have rated them the same but I did prefer the Insignia.

2013 vintage

Double decanted for 3 min and started consuming about 2 hours later. I have had several vintages of this wine and never before the 2005. The wine shows very little age and no bricks, body is close to full body, firm tannins and acidity. Dark notes, a bit linear for it age. I was expecting a touch more but when it cuts through some fat it gets much better. I guess a fatty meat will help, I had it with …

2005 vintage

Awesome bottle. Will be good for many years is my guess. Bold but smooth

2013 vintage

This wine is drinking quite well now but does have more life to it. Nose of leather and wood and dark fruit. Flavors were explosive with dark fruit of black cherry, black raspberry and a little cassis. Perfectly integrated tannins leaving a long and lush finish. Perfect with my perfect Ribeye steak!!

2013 vintage

Deep purple color with slow legs. New oak, cassis and blackberry on the nose. Plum, black cherry and tobacco on the palate. Long leathery finish.

2013 vintage

Covolo's 2002 Napa Cab tasting (Casa Covolo) : Started off with a simple nose, notes of cassis, and dark berry. On the palate, well integrated, with some spice and a tad bit of grainy tannins on the finish. This showed the biggest improvement over the evening, the palate became silkier as the night went on the nose continued to open and become more complex. Finished 4 of 8 in tasting of 2002 Napa cabs, but was my 3 of 8.

2002 vintage

Big purple, rich , juice , monster....too much for me.

2013 vintage

This wine opened up within a half hour. Nose was leather and tobacco and a hint of dark fruit. The palate had beautiful blCk fruit of black cherry, black berry and some sweet dark olum. The tannins were rounded and let the fruit come forward. The finish has a splash of acidity that left you wanting more - long and expressive!!

2006 vintage

After 2 Hr. open bottle the nose is wonderful kind of loamy earthy with a touch of spice. Clean and smooth on the front pallet. Not a lot of astringency. Excellent smooth finish. Absolutely ready to pnp now. Put in a decanter for 4 more hours in the cellar and took it out and served with a rib eye.

2002 vintage

Mild cocoa and earthy tones on back. Not as much fruit as I had hoped. Drink now.

2005 vintage

One bottle had turned bad when we opened it. Vinegary...

2013 vintage

Only took 20 minutes in the open bottle to open up. Nose of black fruit, mainly black cherry and leather. Pallet full of black cherry notes with a nice ascending note of black currant. Finish was soft with notes of black cherry and leather and vanilla all over.

2006 vintage

Note from memory--very good cabernet but to me didn't have the complexity to justify the price. Shared with Lisa and Claire.

2005 vintage

A beautiful cabernet that needs another 3-5 years to reach its peak. One hour decant. Leafy nose followed by sweet dark red fruit. Loads of cassis and mocha. Tannins and acid both still going strong. Finish goes on for 30+ seconds. Next one in 2025.

2013 vintage

A beautiful full bodied wine. Nose of dark fruit and after a good airing the alchohol was not a relevant part of the wine. Nose of dark fruit and some smoke or leather. The palate was delighted with deep dark fruit, black raspberry, black cherry and a currant essence with the round tannins. Finish was long and delightful as the acid, tannins and fruit fight for the end of the line.

2006 vintage

Very nice but needs 3-5 more years in the cellar. Balanced and pure, tannins are still pronounced and a bit bitter. Long finish. Great wine but I would give it more cellar time.

2005 vintage

Initial scents of green leaves and green fruit when first poured; very savoury. Dark colour and medium bodied, but surprisingly smooth, light and somehow peppery on the palate? Well balanced with initial juicy cherry flavours that resolve with satin dry wood, mushroom, and light tobacco. Incredible wine, enjoyed with excellent homemade pasta amatriciana while watching the surreal first round of the AFL on TV while the world ends.

2013 vintage

Bob Strasser -a good friend hosted three of us for a night of wine tasting. We had the following wines: 1994 Far Niente Cab, 2006 Phelps Backus, 2007 Phelps Insignia, 2009 Rudd Cab, 2016 Harlen "The Maiden" This tasting went for 3 and a half hours. Needless to sayall the wines were fantastic and the night was nothing but good drink, food and laughter. The Far Niente held up well considering it is 26 years old - Good body, color …

2006 vintage

I Guess I Just Don’t Get It (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) : I like that instead of a monolithic fruit lollipop there’s a sense of dirt. Clean dirt but anything to interrupt the parade of Fruit Loops in this series is welcome. In addition, it actually improved with air.

2005 vintage

Beautiful nose of blackberry - same as mid palate and the finish was phenomenal with fruit, leather and nice soft tannins. After 1/2 hour of opening, my swishing opened it up to my perfect balance!!

2013 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 90 min double decant; outstanding, drink or hold & need to find more!

2002 vintage

Opened for a tasting event with great friends. Still needs a little more time but is an outstanding wine!

2013 vintage

Bought as a relative novice and thought after 9 years let’s try. Decided my palate had good taste in past. Bday gift to myself

2005 vintage

Clear deep purple. Clean nose, pronounced intensity with rich and opulent black cherry, strong vanilla, prunes , tar, savory aromas of meat and mushrooms. Probably still developing but primary aromas are giving way to tertiary flavors. On the palate: dry, medium plus acidity, very fine and silky tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced flavors of very rich, mouthful cooked fruit, bitter chocolate, prunes. Finish is medium +. Very good wine drink now or age for 5 + more years

2006 vintage

Backus is the crown jewel of Napa Cab. It won out over Shrader Hillside, Sloan, Maya, Hundred Acre in side by side tasting. Enjoyed it with Tomahawk Ribeyes and grilled octopus. Beautiful wine.

2006 vintage

Thought it would be a monstrous wine; instead it was very refined, soft and muted. But fruit and flavors emerged after several hours and lasted as well as developed for net day sample. Very nice profile, the fruit deepened, and well balanced. a 94-96 for me and it may have a few more years left, as the wine faked me out into believing it had faded when I just required more time to open. I've added the above note in …

2002 vintage

Slightly hazy deep purple. Clean nose of medium plus intensity with aromas of prunes, blackberries, bramble, cedar, leather and farmyard. The wine is fully developed. On the Pitt is dry with medium plus acidity, very fine medium plus tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced flavor intensity of toast, tar, dried cherries, dark chocolate, leather. The finish is long. Very good wine, in it’s prime now or can be aged further.

2005 vintage

Opened for around 3 hours before consumption, not decanted. The wine was ready and beautiful right at the beginning of our anniversary dinner. Very smooth, balanced with settled tannins and acidity. Bold, dark chocolate, berries and a long finish. Perfect wine right now and should keep on drinking well for at least 5 years.

2002 vintage

Double decanted for an hour, deep ruby with no bricking, black cherries on the nose & palate, med/firm tannins, long finish; outstanding & just entering its long drinking window

2002 vintage

Very strong perfume on the nose, tight for the first hour, full body and long finish. It will pair well with NY Strip Steak. This was wine number 6 of our Couples Wine Group, the wine was decanted for one hour with I believe was not enough, thankfully towards the very end I enjoyed the last sip showing a broader spectrum and complexity. Very good wine with better days ahead!

2006 vintage

Very nice dark sweet blackberries infused fruits with smooth yet firm structure. In a great place right now, will hold for long time. Opened for Friendsgiving Shur Party.

2002 vintage

Very good California Cabernet, right in the sweet spot. Very pleasant blueberry and cocoa notes, decent acidity and savory tannins. Quite easy to drink and not ridiculously oaky or over fruity. No reason to hold on to this any longer.

2002 vintage

Wow. I remember tasting this out of the barrel years ago at JP and it was able to keep the strong notes of minerality, soften the cab cherry fruit, and balance the oak. Tannins were luscious and such a velvety texture with a nice hint of forest floor on the finish. Has become my favorite wine to date. Absolutely loved this wine and the deep color.

2005 vintage

Holy Hell thats a beautiful wine. Powerful nose. Jammy fruit shines throughout. 60-90 minute decant.

2005 vintage

Deep, gorgeous midnight purple with light violet edges. Deep blackberry and bramble notes on the nose. Strong, spicy wood with smooth blackberry notes and vanilla at the tail end.

2005 vintage

Color is medium intensity garnet. Medium-plus intensity on the nose. Aroma notes of blackcurrent and black cherry, spice box from the French oak, “Oakville dust,” truffle and forest floor. Palate matches the nose. Medium-plus body; low acidity; medium-plus tannins; medium-plus length. This is clearly a new-world wine. You’d never mistake it for a Bordeaux. It’s very solid, with great backbone and aging potential. It’s drinking fine now, but with plenty of years left, and will likely improve. Incidentally, I came …

2005 vintage

Love this wine! A true great!

2002 vintage

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Joseph Phelps, Backus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

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